Waterproof first-aid kit



July 9, 1929. l, B, DAVlEs 1,720170 WATERPROOF FIRST AID KIT LST-'21:11:

WTNESES L INVENTOR Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF 1,720,110 LCE.

JOHN B. DAVIES, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO MINE SAFETY AP- PLIANCES COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- sYLvANIA.

WATERPROOF FIRST-AID KIT.

Application tiled November 1, 1928. Serial No. 316,371.

The invention relates to first aid kits, and

A-.especially to a kit adapted to protect the contents from dust and moisture.

An object of the invention is to provide a first aid kit of rugged and simple construction, which is perfectl water and dustproof, and which may be readily and quickly opened tobender the first ald supplies easily access1 e.

A further object is to provide a drawer type waterproof first aid kit from which the supplies cannot fall when the drawer is removed from its casing.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front View partly in section of a closed kit; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the kit shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a front elevation of the drawer withdrawn from its casing, a portion of the cover being broken away to show the contained emergency supply packages; and Fig. 4 a sectional view of the drawer, taken on line IV-IV, Fig. 3.

The kit provided according to this invention comprises a drawer provided at one end with a peripheral outwardly extending sealing flange, a casing enclosing the side walls and other end of the casing, a gasket seated between the flange and the top of the casing, and means cooperating between the flange and casing to force those members into compressive sealing engagement with the gasket for sealing the joint so that no moisture or dust can penetrate into the drawer.

Having reference now to the drawings, the kit shown comprises a drawer 1, Figs.. 3 and 4, and a casing 2 which encloses the side walls and one end of the drawer, these members being formed from rigid material which is impervious to moisture, the material preferably being sheet metal. The drawer, which is of the customary shallow rectangular form, need be heavy enough only to permit handling without distortion, but the casing is made of metal heavy enough to provide adequate strength to withstand roug usage, QO-gauge sheet steel for example. The outer end of the drawer is provided with a sealink and reinforcing member by riveting or'ot erwise securing thereto a heavy metallic plate 3 having a substantiall fiat body portion 4 similar in shape to but arger than the end of the v and skirt 5 surrounds the drawer forming therewith a channel 7 in which is disposed a resilient gasket 8 composed referably of molded rubber. Lugs 9, pre erably hornshaped, are formed integrally with plate 3 at opposite ends thereof.

Manually operable clamps, carried by the caslng, cooperate with lugs 9 to compress the gasket between the top of the casing andA plate 3 to seal the joint. These clamps are preferably of the general type used on trunks and suit cases. Each comprises a throw-off lever 10 pivotally connected at one end to a stud formed on a plate 11 attached to the side of the casing, the lever being aligned with lug 9 and movable in a plane passing through the lugs longitudinally of the casing. A lugengaging stlrrup 12 is pivotally mounted on the throw-oil:l lever intermediate of its ends. In the use\of this clam the lever is thrown outwardly away from t e casing, raising theA stirrup as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and upon placing the stirrup over lug 9 and forcing the lever downwardly, pressure is applied to force the drawer and casing into compressed sealing engagement with the gasket. This type of clamp exerts maximum compression w en the stirrup is in dead ceny ter relation to the lever, the pressure exerted falling off on either side'of that position. However, whenin dead center the clamp is easily released by slight disturbances, and as usuall constructed, the stirrup is mounted at sucli a point in the lever that when the clamp is closed the bottom of the stirrup is appreciably olf-center, with the result that the pressure is released somewhat. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stirrup is mounted so that when in pressure-ap lying position it is beyond but close to its ead center position, as shown in Fig. 1, this construction giving substantially full sealing pressure; to insure against leakage, while not being liable to accidental release. Also, a minimum movement of the lever is necessary to release the clamp, making it easy to open the kit quickly.

A particularly valuable feature of the kit provided by the invention, in addition to its waterproof and rugged nature, resides in the provision of a cover 13 attached by hinges 14 to the lower end of the drawer, and vided with a spring finger 15 which tionally engages the drawer to hold it in closed position. This cover 'prevents the supplies from falling out of the di'awer while it is being removed from the casing, and effectively overcomes a disadvantage of prior types of open-drawer kits from which the supplies were often spilled whenopened carelessly or under the stress or confusion of emergency conditions. A handle 16 is attached to plate 3, for use in carrying the assembled kit and for ready withdrawal of the drawer after releasing the clamps.

In Fig. 3 a portion of' cover 13 is broken away to show the-preferred manner of disposing iii-st aid supplies in the drawer. The dressings and other emergency materials are contained in flat boxes 17 placed endwise in l the drawer, a partition 19 being provided lengthwise of the drawer to separate the rows. rIhis disposition maintains the supplies in orderly arrangement so that each item is always available at once, and the packaging in individual boxes assists in keeping the items clean.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention' and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifi cally shown and described.

I claim:

1. A waterproof rst aid kit comprising a d `awer member provided at one end with an outward peripheral flange, a casing member enclosing the other end and sides of said drawer, a gasket arranged between the top of the casing member and said flange, lugs disposed on one of said members, and manu ally-operable clamps connected to the other member, said clamps and lugs cooperating to force said members into compressive sealing engagement with the gasket.

2. A waterproof first aid kit comprising a covered metallic drawer of rectangular section provided at one end with a continuous outwardly extending flange having an outer skirt portion disposed about the drawer ici-ming a channel therebetween, a gasket disposed in said channel, a'metallic casing enclosing the side walls and other end of' said drawer and seated against said gasket, lugs formed on opposite sides of said flange, and nianually-operable clamps connected to said' easing, said clamps and lugs cooperating to force said drawer' and casing into compressive sealing engagement with the gasket.

3. A waterprooffirst aid kit comprising a drawer member provided at one end with an outward peripheral iange, a casing member enclosing the other end and sides of said drawer, a gasket arranged between the top of the casing member and said iange, lugs formed on opposite sides of said flange, and quick-acting clamps connected to said casing, said clamps comprising a vertically-movable throw-olf lever pivotally connected to the casing, and a lug-engaging stiirup pivotally mounted in said lever, said clamps and lugs cooperating to force said members into compressive sealing engagement with the gasket.

Ll. A waterprootI tirst aid kit comprising a sheet metal drawer of rectangular section havingl a hinged cover and provided at one end with a continuous outwardly extending flange having a skirt portion forming a channel with the drawer, a rubber gasket arranged in said channel, a metallic casing enclosing.

the other end and side walls of said drawer and seating against said gasket, horn shaped lugs formed on opposite sides of said fiange,

Vand throw-olf clamps connected to said casing cooperating with said lugs to force said drawer and easing into compressive sealing engagement with the gasket, said clamps comprising a throw-oftl lever pivotally carried by the casing for movement longitudinally thereof, and a lug-engaging stirrup pivotally mounted in said lever to be close to but slightly beyond dead center when in closing position.

In testimony whereof", I sign my name.

JOHN B. DAVIES. 

